as in crossroads
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
the governor responded swiftly and surely to the crisis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crises
So, why is this country in the midst of one of the greatest humanitarian crises in modern history?
—
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
But Venezuelans, having endured years of crises, know how to tackle adversity.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
The result was that, where earlier fiscal crises had been met by waves of municipal-level revolts against mainstream economic policies, New York witnessed no such revolts in the 1970s.
—Daniel Wortel-London, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
The unrest comes as multiple crises have whipsawed the economy.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
WalletHub's analysis also examined how cities protect their residents from other types of harm, including public health crises, natural disasters, traffic accidents, scams and financial instability, among other factors.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 5 Jan. 2026
The designation was first granted under the Biden administration and later expanded, citing political instability, humanitarian crises and the lack of basic services in Venezuela.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Every dollar spent on preventing extreme hunger saves many more that might have to be disbursed in response to crises.
—Arif Husain, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025
Darlene Greene, a member of the town council representing a tract in West Altadena, told me that the ordeal of rebuilding had driven some of her constituents into mental-health crises.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crises
Noun
-
Production is underway in Pennsylvania on the project, which centers on a local Gettysburg family navigating the chaos of war, the moral crossroads of the Underground Railroad, and the struggles of a Union soldier torn between duty and compassion.—
-
Lesotho is now at a crossroads.—
Noun
-
Pay phone change in case of emergencies jangling in my pocket, an extra bowl of cereal ingested for fuel, tire pressure checked.—
-
Each year in the national park, there are more than a hundred backcountry emergencies.—
Noun
-
In these situations, a traditional triangle isn’t always achieved.—
-
Coach Eric Spoelstra noted after the game that the Heat regularly experience similar condensation on their practice courts in Florida, but in those situations, the moisture can be cleared up in 15 minutes or less.—
Noun
-
The political exigencies that faced the American literary public were of a different set.—
Noun
-
Following the defeat, the players didn’t hang their heads.—
-
Moore showed off her show-stopping red carpet style at the 2026 WWD Style Awards that same evening, turning heads in a side boob-baring black halterneck Gucci dress with a completely open back and sheer skirt.—
Cite this Entry
“Crises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crises. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
